Caryl

If only I lived closer I would help re-home some of them.

Bad luck for the live trees

Hi and welcome. We hope to help those in NZ specifically as not all items and fish are available here so it pays to have local knowledge. Your user name reminds me of the poster that says "I Never Run With Scissors" and underneath it says "The words With Scissors are not necessary"

More importantly, the hebes stop the herons from landing on the fence before descending to wipe out the fish! The pond is shaded all summer by a large Chinese Silk tree plus the decks overhang each end by about 1m. It is also over knee deep in the middle so temperature is not usually a problem. The water lilies cover a lot as well. It was cleaned out last year (or the year before) so not as much plant as there used to be. The fish were having to use machetes to get through the oxygen weed! It has been very slow to grow back, thank goodness. I shall have a look for some puha. The mint wasn't actually intentionally planted, I had used some soil to pot up ferns which were hung over the far end deck and the mint came up from there!

Some of you have followed the build of my pond, starting in 2006. Here it is today. The hebes are well overgrown (and hang almost halfway over the pond, making it look a lot smaller than it is) and some will be hacked back and others removed entirely. As I have to get into the pond to reach them I am waiting for warmer weather The mint is doing well. I am thinking of planting watercress as well as it will be nice and green and act as extra filtration.

I will have 2 dogs and a 1 year old grandson, among others, at my place for Christmas so looking to child-safe the lounge. Our tree will be up high (just use the top two tiers and put it on top of the pellet fire) and a bit of furniture arranged to stop him reaching it. I might get a playpen to put around the hearth instead. I had one but gave it to his parents to put the baby in. The baby stays outside of it and their guitars and amps are in the playpen!

I get oxygen weed from a local river free. Get it from an area with reasonable water flow so it is less likely to harbour algae.

Both are easy to grow. Attach to a piece of driftwood or rock and away they go. Neither like their roots buried.

I am sure you could find some in the Motueka Nelson area jackypukeko. Go and have a look in local rivers and streams. I know I have seen them in Marlborough. Used to catch them at Onamalutu.

Don't forget this forum is only part of a whole website dedicated to NZ fish keeping

Wow, not everyone has a magical tank appear in their house! Much excitement ahead and we look forward to progress reports and pics.

Welcome. You will find others around your age here too.

I don't think a non planted tank is simpler, except possibly in looks. What about rainbows? PS. Welcome back by the way Si.

When someone mentions oxygen plants, I automatically think coldwater oxygen weed. It is somewhere between $12 - $15 usually to post to Auckland. I can offer rotala, Java moss and crypts.

I have no idea about using garden soil but am happy to send plants as long as you pay the postage.

Have you still only the 1 hoplo? I would be swapping that plec for 2 or 3 more hoplos.

It will matter to the ambulia but I am not sure what grows outdoors up there.

I don't know what it's like in Auckland but down here I get my oxygen weed from the river that runs through the middle of our town. It is free!

So, have the kids left home or did you buy a bigger house? Welcome back

Yeah, I can see someone saying "I want to speak to the BigBossPants please".

Golden barbs seem to cause problems for many, although when I had mine they were fine and I think they may have been in the tank the same time as the neons but my tank is larger than yours too. This can make a difference to aggression, the smaller the tank the more aggressive the fishes as they try and mark their territory. Pictures don't always do the dwarf neons justice as they catch the light beautifully as they move causing their scales to flash and change shade and brilliance with their movement. They may not be a flash as the Boesemani but I am sure you will find their more subtle colour intriguing.

Welcome to the forum. Boesemani are large and active so need a good length for swimming, so 4ft minimum, especially as they are skittish and do better in a group of 6+, further requiring a larger aquarium. Do not use pHup as it will most likely cause pH swings in the tank. A steady pH a bit out of range is better than one that swings due to the regular addition or chemicals. Many fish do not show their true colours unless kept in ideal conditions with a large number of tank mates. I am sure you will find the neon dwarfs very eye-catching in the right light, especially if you have a group of them. Keep an eye on those golden barbs though as they may try to kill any fish with a similar body shape!

And now... http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/73569852/whitebaiters-pour-cooking-oil-into-river-in-new-fad Nothing like using cooking oil to help the E coli and fecal matter stick to your whitebait!

Have you tried removing it? It may not grow back. If it is a relatively new tank still maturing conditions will change for it and it won't grow again. I think others have removed such mould and it has eventually given up. Did you boil the wood before use? That might kill the spores.

From Jo Goodin, FNZAS Life Member: It is with sadness that I let you know that Terry Sale past away suddenly at his home in Masterton on the 29th October .His funeral will be held in Masterton Wednesday 4th Nov at 1.30 at St James Church High St Masterton. Terry and his late wife Jennie were members of the Hawkes Bay club for years. They were involved in the Federation and in Judging. They later moved to Masterton and became members of the Wairarapa Club. He will be missed by many.